Hound of the Moment
Learn all about Samson (and make your dog a contender for the next Hound of the Moment).

Overheard on Hound Talk
Where can I get the best price on raw food?

Can our landlord prohibit us from running our dogs on the roof?

Yikes! What can I do about our puppy's gas?

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Calling all talented dogs! CBS is looking for the most extraordinary teams of dogs and owners across the nation to compete for the title of "America's top dog." From purebreds to mutts, show dogs to stunt dogs, Pugs to Great Danes and agility dogs to dogs who dance the Tango - we want all types of talented canines. Apply Now.

Staten Island Companion Dog Club 56th Annual Obedience Trial
Saturday, February 16, 9 AM to 3 PM
The Cromwell Center, Pier 6 and Hannah Center, Staten Island
Staten Island's most obedient hounds and their proud trainers will strut their stuff at this event. More information at 718-761-8048.

Doga Classes
Tuesday, February 19, 7 PM to 7:45 PM (and the second Wednesday of each month starting March 12)
Bideawee, 410 E. 38th St., Manhattan
This is a partner yoga class for you and your hound. (We'll skip the downward facing dog jokes.) Cost is $18 per class, package deals are available. More information and how to register here.

Spay Day USA
Tuesday, February 26, All Day
Nationwide
Spay or neuter your hound, or spread the word about the importance of doing so, on this annual day of awareness, sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States. Visit the initiative's website to enter the pet photo contest and learn about free spay and neuter clinics and other Spay Day events in your area.

Barking Mad Bingo
Friday, February 29, doors open 6 PM, show starts 7 PM
Animal Haven Soho, 251 Centre St., Manhattan
A fund raiser for the Animal Haven shelter, with performaces by Sybil Bruncheon, Fabio Gorgissimo, and Gefil Tefish. Tickets are $20. Please leave your hound at home!

Coffee Bark
Saturday, March 1, 7 AM to 9 AM
Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Held in rain or in shine, in the park's Long Meadow, behind the Picnic House (enter at Prospect Park West and 4th Street, then go left around the Picnic House), the monthly Coffee Bark includes muffins for humans and dog biscuits for hounds. The long standing social is sponsored by Brooklyn's FIDO, officially known as the Fellowship In the Interest of Dogs and Their Owners.

St. Nick's Dog Park Coffee Bark
Saturday, March 1, 9 AM to 11 PM
Mid-park between the 135th St. staircase and 136th St., Manhattan
Coffee and other refreshments are served at this gathering, which happens on the first Saturday of every month in St. Nicholas Park. For more information or if you'd like to volunteer, write dogpark@stnicholaspark.org.

Sir William's Dog Run Coffee Bark
Sunday, March 2, 8 AM to 10 AM
Sir William's Dog Run, Fort Tryon Park, 190th St. and Fort Washington Ave., Manhattan
The Fort Tryon Dog Owner's Group invites everyone to this gathering the first Sunday of each month at their beautiful run. Free coffee and donuts. If you'd like to help out with maintenance of the run, stick around after the event.

Animal Advocacy on the Local Level
Wednesday, March 5, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
New York City Bar Association, 42 W. 44th St., Manhattan
What can you do to improve the lives of animals right here in NYC? A panel of experts including City Council Member Gale Brewer and John Phillips of the League of Humane Voters will address the question. The event is free. Registration is requested.

Pet Rox Concert
Thursday, March 6, 8:30 PM
Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St., Manhattan
Get down with the band made up entirely of animal care professionals. There's a $15 cover and a two drink minimum. Part of the proceeds goes to benefit animal charities. Reservations suggested, call 212-757-0788.

Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac Launch Party
Monday, March 10, 6 PM to 8 PM
VP Lounge, 64 Third Ave., Manhattan
Author Bruce Goldstein, accompanied by hound Ozzy, will read from and sign his new book. Admission is free, a portion of the proceeds from book and bar sales will benefit Bideawee. RSVP to jill.pall@bideawee.org.

Bobbi and the Strays All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Night!
Thursday, March 13, 7 PM to 10 PM
Carosello Restaurant, 162-54 Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach, Queens
A nice dinner out to benefit the Queens rescue group. Tickets are $25. To reserve call Sandy at 917-882-6949 or email bobbicares2@aol.com.

Pet Tech First Aid Care & CPR Workshop
Saturday, March 15, 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Bideawee, 410 E. 38th St., Manhattan
Learn how to help your hound in case of an emergency. Cost is $85. For more information or to register, contact Bideawee at 212-532-4986 or manhattanlearning@bideawee.org.

If there's an event you'd like us to mention in the next NewsHound, please email us.

Calling All Talented Dogs!
Email us now to apply. Please include your phone number, as well as a description and photo of you and your hound. Or download an application at CBS.com.

Indictments in the Tainted Pet Food Case. The Associated Press reports that three companies – two in China and one in the U.S. – have been indicted in connection with the melamine-tainted wheat gluten used in the manufacture of pet food that killed thousands of dogs and cats last year. The indictments allege that Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. knowingly introduced melamine to the gluten to artificially boost its protein content. Suzhou Textiles is alleged to have mislabled the product and failed to declare it as a food ingredient, in order to avoid government inspection in China. ChemNutra, the US-based company, is alleged to have knowingly distributed mislabeled product; the indictment does not allege that ChemNutra knew the product was tainted.

Wondering where local pols stand on animal issues? Download the free League of Humane Voters 2007 New York City Council Humane Scorecard.

New Strain of Parvo Found in the U.S. Researchers at Oklahoma State University have identified a strain of canine parvovirus previously unknown in the United States. The researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, hope the discovery of CPV-2c will lead to more effective vaccines, according to Dr. Sanjay Kapil, who led the study.

Got Puppy Love? The ASPCA is looking to celebrate both Valentine's Day and the bond between human and animal by holding a My Furry Valentine contest. Entrants are encouraged to submit photos of the pet that introduced them to loving an animal, whether it be a childhood pet, a current family dog or any other animal that touched their lives. The top 10 entrants will receive an ASPCA prize pack that includes a T-Shirt, stuffed animal, ASPCA awareness bracelets and a copy of The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff. Entry deadline is February 29.

What's On. Animal Planet has a new show, Petfinder, in which hosts Jarod Miller and Dina Zaphiris help match families with shelter animals. The show is created in conjunction with the popular Web site Petfinder.com. The network also continues to air the finals of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championships, where 3,000 dogs compete to become Best-in-Show, and the AKC Agility Championships. Meanwhile, the National Geographic Channel will show Search for the First Dog, in which canine experts look for relics of the first domesticated canines. The show is on Wednesday, February 13, and Thursday, February 21.